Eagles top Raiders, set up race for second

By JAMES BARRINGTON and ASHLEY ELLER Canyon News staff

Published 10:08 am, Tuesday, February 11, 2014

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Eagles top Raiders, set up race for second

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When the Raiders traveled to Canyon earlier in the season they handed the Eagles a defeat at home. The Eagles were looking to return the favor Friday night, when they hit the court at the House of Doom. At stake was a share of third place in district

3-4 A, and a chance to grab a three-way share of second place with Palo Duro. Canyon’s 64-53 win set up that scenario for Tuesday night.

The Eagles scored a quick six unanswered points, two from Dylan Douglass and four from Aaron Hughes, and then never trailed. The Raiders pulled within two a couple of times on a foul shot by Brady Borchardt and a bucket by Philip Terry. A second three-pointer by Mason Smith nudged Randall up against the Eagles at 9-10. In the last two minutes of the first quarter, Douglass hit a two-pointer and then Jacob Relyea hit one for three points and another for two to stretch the Eagles’ lead to 17-9 when the first quarter ended.

Douglass was four-for-four from the free throw line in the first quarter. He finished the night hitting 14 of 18 for 77 percent. Overall, the Eagles finished the evening with 22 of 36 free throws for 61 percent. The Raiders hit 12 of 18 for 67 percent, but only half as many opportunities.

As the second quarter opened, it was Randall’s Savion Colbert who hit from downtown, but Relyea answered with a Canyon three just seconds later. During the evening, Canyon hit six three-pointers (five by Relyea and one by Colton O’Brien) while Randall nailed eight (two by Smith, one by Colbert, four by Philip Terry and one by Paul Terry).

D.J. Stacey shot over the Eagles’ defense for two and Paul Terry hit the mark twice for four points, putting 11 more points on the board before the halftime break. The Eagles added 17 to their tally. Relyea was a one-man wrecking crew, responsible for 13 of them. He hit from downtown three times, scored one from the paint and added two free throws in four attempts. Douglass scored the other four points from the stripe where he was perfect in two visits. The Eagles extended their lead to 34-20 before ending the first half.

In the opening minute of the second half, Paul Terry was charged with a technical and Douglass scored two free throws before missing the next two on that trip. He later got back on track and added two more free throws in the third quarter. Relyea and Colton O’Brien each scored from outside the arc for Canyon and Cody Price was able to hit the front end of a one-for-one for a total of 11 in the period of play. It was Canyon’s least productive quarter for point-production. In the meantime, Raider Phillip Terry added a couple of two-point baskets and a pair of free throws. His teammate, Choice Yates, was perfect from the line for two. Colbert added three free throws in two trips to the line and Borchardt shot for two from underneath.

With a 16-11 advantage in the third quarter, the Raiders were fighting to overtake the Eagles, closing the Canyon margin to nine at 45-36.

Randall had the momentum going into the final period. A pair of Philip Terry three-pointers off-set fast-break points by Cody Price and Relyea in the early going. When Borchardt hit both of his free throws with 5:21 on the clock the Raiders cut the lead to three at 50-47.

Grainger Fischbacher gave the Eagles some breathing room when he hit for two. Relyea then added two more from the field to pull out to a 54-47 margin.

After adding three points in two trips to the line, the Raiders had closed to within four at 54-50 with just over three minutes remaining in regulation.

Douglass then scored the basket from underneath and took a long pass over the field up and in for two to give Canyon a 58-50 lead with just under two minutes to play.

Running out of time, Randall was forced to resort to the foul for opportunities to get the ball. By then they were sending Canyon to the line in the double bonus. In the last 90 seconds of the game, Canyon went to the line four times and hit six of eight opportunities.

With just over a minute left, Paul Terry gave the Raiders their only glimmer of hope when he hit from downtown to close to 59-53 at that point. Five of Canyon’s points from the charity stripe came in the last 35 seconds to make the final score 64-53, Eagles’ favor.

Before the game Coach Leslie Bradshaw agreed, “This will be a tough game. They (the Eagles) will be looking for a win.”

Colbert had 14 points for the Raiders, Phillip Terry added 12 and Paul Terry was also in double digits with 11. Canyon’s Relyea had a game high 27 points and Douglass scored 20, all but six he scored one at a time from the line.

Canyon’s head coach, Guy Crenshaw was grateful for the win. Acknowledging that the Eagles appeared intent on making their games exciting, he said, “They played their butts off. I was happy to see that. Even though we gave up a little bit of the lead, our character showed tonight. We showed great character - keeping that lead. We never let them get it. We held them off and made some free throws. I was proud of them.”

As of the end of Friday night’s games, Amarillo has clinched the district 3-4A championship. At that point, Palo Duro was in second place at 6-3, one game ahead of Canyon and Randall, both at 5-4. In Tuesday’s action, Randall was set to finish their regular season at Palo Duro. A win by Randall would put them in a tie with Palo Duro for second place. With Canyon hosting Dumas (2-7, in fifth place) an Eagle win, combined with a Randall win would create a Canyon-Randall-Palo Duro tie for second place. A Palo Duro win over Randall, combined with a Canyon win over Dumas would put Palo Duro in second place, Canyon in third and Randall in fourth. A Palo Duro win over Randall, combined with a Canyon loss to Dumas, would give the Dons second place and leave Canyon and Randall tied for third.

The weekend is open to give teams the opportunity to break ties, and bi-district play will begin Monday or Tuesday of next week.